I went to a pre-season AFL or Aussie rules footy game this arvo at the Paterson's Stadium in Subiaco. I seriously believe that all Australians speak in netspeak - everything is shorted or given acronyms. That is just me though. The game was Fremantle Dockers versus the Richmond Tigers.
Aussie rules is an interesting game, it is a combination of volleyball underhand serves, American football punts, ultimate Frisbee touching rules, and a rugby style ball. A friend explained all of the rules to me and I understood a basic amount. Pretty much, they have four posts at the end of each side going little, big, big, little. If you get the ball between the big and big it is 6 points and between the big and little is 1 point. The field is 180 m long by 96 m wide and circular. The game is split into four 25 minute quarters. No stopping for penalties, breaks in between quarters are five minutes with a ten minute half time, and no announcers at all. Penalties just result in a free kick (no one can tackle them while this happens). The game never stops.
The crowd was way more entertaining than the game - Australian know how to get rowdy. The attendance was only 7,600 of a potential 16,000 people. I can only imagine when it is sold out how rowdy the crowds can get. They don't serve booze to you if your team (if you are wearing a jersey) is losing. Funny rule but I guess Australians are known for their drinking habits at $12 a mini pint.
The players are incredibly fit and stunning - delicious and scrumptious is another description. The average age of players in the professional league is 22. The boys have legs like trunks of muscle. It made it look like a hockey player was an anorexic. The players run from one end to the other constantly. Statistics say that they run an average of 15 km a game.
It is really nice to be picked up on res and dropped off. Cars are really a godsend.
AFN
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